Floods ‘Sweep’ Communities, Farms Submerged

Several hectors of farmlands in communities in the Northern and upper east regions have been submerged in water following torrential rains in the area over the weekend.

The situation comes even before the flood gates of the dreaded Bagri Dam in neigbouring Burkina Faso could open.

Farmers in the affected communities are counting their loss as several farms within the area have been submerged in water destroying crops that have been planted.

Within the Tamale Metropolis, Gumani, Asawaba, Sagnarigu-Kukuo and Jisonayili are the worst hit communities.

While most of the link roads have also been rendered impassable, health personnel are unable to travel to district capitals especially in parts of the Upper East region to cart drugs to the affected communities to provide healthcare to residents.

Fears are that an epidemic of water-related diseases may hit these flood-prone areas and cause needless deaths in the communities while a looming famine is gradually greeting the affected areas as most of them are notable food producing communities.

Though no deaths have been recorded, reports say thousands of persons have been rendered homeless.

The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) as at press time was yet to respond to the plight of displaced persons in the two regions.

The meteorological service has already predicted heavy rains this year.